Oil and Gas Exploration on

Public Lands

LICA, Oct 16, 2012

Seismic Line

Conventional 2D

Conventional 3D

Oil Sands Exploration Well

The boring stuff….

In Alberta, oil and gas exploration is regulated by a number of Acts, Regulations, Code of Practice and government directives.

Seismic

Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) has the mandate to approve all seismic exploration programs within the province of Alberta under the following legislations:

Mines and Minerals Act (Part 8)

Part 8 of the Act outlines regulations for exploration.

Exploration Regulation (AR 284/2006)

Alberta Regulation 284/2006 regulates companies engaging in exploration of petroleum and natural gas projects governed by the

Mines and Minerals Act.

Seismic Legislation Compliance ESRD receives applications for proposed seismic exploration programs

and approves the applications under the legislation for all petroluem and natural gas seismic exploration within the province of Alberta. SRD oversees day-to-day operations and ensures legislation compliance with the legislations which includes:

Exploration Directives

Schedule 1 of Alberta's Exploration Regulation includes a list of 26 exploration directives. While the Regulation describes the "must do" about exploration operations, the directives explain "how to do". The directives use plain language to make exploration requirements easy to understand. Each exploration directive is enforced through the specific section of the Mines and Minerals Act and Exploration Regulation that the directive references.

Exploration Restricted Areas

Certain lands in Alberta have seismic operational restrictions.

Oil Sands Exploration

ESRD has the mandate to approve and regulate the use of public

land for oil sands exploration within the province of Alberta under the following legislations:

Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act

The “Code of Practice for Exploration Operation” is made

pursuant to this act. Reclamation and Reclamation Certificates are regulated through this.

Public Lands Act

Section 20 of the Act authorizes the use of public land.

The more interesting stuff…

How does ESRD manage exploration on Public Land?

Public land Belongs to all of us!!!

Seismic

Then…

A typical 2D application map.

A typical 3D application map.

2D low impact seismic line

3D low impact seismic lines

2D seismic line

Lines are required to have 200m max line of site.

- Tree avoidance

- Wildlife protection

- Limited impact

Black spruce

Typical mulcher cut line

Mulch must not be greater than 5cm in depth on average.

Watercourse Crossings (river, creeks, etc)

Water Body Crossings (lakes, ponds, etc)

White spruce

Pine to black spruce

Upland to lowland

Damaged tree

Seismic in a cutblock

Hand cut line

Another hand cut line.

Reclamation inspections (Letter of Clearance)

2002 line with minor ATV use.

Built in 2002 and inspected in 2008.

Built in 2002 and inspected in 2008.

Built in 2002 and inspected in 2008.

Built in 2002 and inspected in 2010.

Oil Sands Exploration (OSE)

A typical application map

Promote low impact site construction

Site is small and compact

Built in 2009 and picture taken in 2009.

Built in 2006 and picture taken in 2008.

Typical access road (6-8m)

Reclamation inspections (Reclamation Certificate)

End land use – grazing, habitat, forestry, etc.

Trembling aspen site

White spruce and aspen regeneration.

Jack pine and aspen site

Black spruce site

Thanks!!

Questions??